“Chorus Line” still “one singular sensation” in touring revival

A staggering 35 years after A Chorus Line burst upon the scene (incredible but, yes, that’s how long it’s been), the landmark musical about the lives of Broadway dancers remains a unique and extraordinarily effective piece of theater.

In the expertly performed touring revival at Hobby Center, the show may not deliver the exhilarating thrill of discovery it carried when it was “Broadway’s new kick” and initial touring casts enraptured cities across America with the most eagerly awaited hit of its time.

Yet, even for those of us who have seen it a dozen times, it’s impossible to take the show for granted. Its urgency, immediacy and authenticity simply don’t allow that.

It comes by those qualities naturally. First, because it was inspired by taped discussions with real dancers sharing their stories. Second, because Michael Bennett, who conceived, directed and choreographed the show, gave it such an ingenious and potent format.

A Chorus Line unfolds as an audition, at which dancers compete for a limited number of jobs in a new show, with the tough director Zach insisting they must also tell “a little about themselves.”

Librettists James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante shaped the stories with skill, balancing earthy humor and heartfelt sentiment, with standout moments of revelatory monologue. The show broke ground not only in concept and execution, but its frank treatment of the characters’ personal lives. Though no longer startling, it’s still unusually gutsy and “real” for a mainstream musical.

Marvin Hamlisch’s dynamic, versatile score encompasses a wide range of musical theater styles. Amid standouts such as the poignant What I Did for Love, the production number One and the driving The Music and the Mirror, it’s Hamlish’s blend of intimate solos, extended ensembles, fragmentary musings, rousing dance music and subtle underscoring that gives the show a continuous musical texture.

The show’s ultimate, overriding strength is Bennett’s work as master alchemist, seamlessly melding ingredients so that dance, song and spoken word are constantly interwoven and equally important. The brilliant detail of Bennett’s work is faithfully recreated for the revival by two of his original associates, Bob Avian (recreating the direction) and Baayork Lee (the choreography).

Rebecca Riker brings the right intensity, strong singing and superb dancing to Cassie, the director’s former lover, desperate to return to the chorus after a failed bid at stardom. She blazes through her big solo, The Music and Mirror.

Selina Verastigul is affecting as tenacious Diana, recalling her ordeal in a method acting class in Nothing and beautifully leading the company in What I Did for Love. Ashley Yeater scores as acerbic, aggressive Sheila, joined by Kirstin Tucker’s Bebe and Stephanie Martignetti’s Maggie for the moving trio of women who escaped miserable home lives At the Ballet. Kristen Martin makes a sassy, worldly Val, celebrating her surgically enhanced figure in Dance 10, Looks 3.

Presiding as director Zach, Derek Hanson projects the requisite authority – often harsh, but with flashes of sympathetic understanding to humanize the stern taskmaster.

Any quibbles? Well, inevitably, some key roles don’t come across with quite the distinctive personality of the original team. No one will ever quite equal the Cassie of Donna McKechnie, for instance. And some of the comic business,

as when certain dancers habitually repeat the mistakes Zach warns against (watching their feet and such) could be done a shade more subtly, so that they look natural rather than obvious laugh-getters.

Chorus Line is now a period piece, but mainly in details of the 1970s Broadway it depicts. At heart, it’s still about “I really need this job!” and that’s a theme with timeless and universal pull.

The show’s 1985 film version proved a dud because it was badly realized. Yet even if ideally adapted, Chorus Line could never be as effective in any other medium. This “audition” has to play out live, in real time and space. If you’ve never experienced Chorus Line that way, get thee to Hobby Center. If you’re a longtime fan, you’re probably on your way already.